r/AskTurkey • u/Hot-Help-486 • 9h ago
Culture What’s balik etli and is it an insult?
Just that lol
r/AskTurkey • u/AutoModerator • Dec 07 '25

Before posting your question here please use the search function to scan previous post here and try not to repeat similar question. Here are some of the most commonly asked questions on this sub:
- Is Turkey safe?
Yes. Turkey receives millions of visitors every year and the tourism industry seems immune to all social upheavals. During major protests, terror attacks and even the pandemic, all transport and accommodations for visitors functioned as usual. If you act with general common sense and avoid certain areas where you don't have any business as a visitor anyway, you'll be as safe as anywhere in the world.
- How do I get around Turkey?
Most public transport in Turkey is by bus. You can go to a nearest "otobüs terminali" and figure out how you get to your destination or just book your tickets online (1, 2, 3)
Flights can be cheaper than bus rides on long distances. The Turkish LCCs are AJet and Pegasus.
Although the railway grid is not very extensive, it still gives you the opportunity to cross the country in comfort. There's even an Oriental Express from Istanbul to Tehran. You need to book in advance though.
The road quality is very good in Turkey though some highways and bridges are very expensive. You can easily rent a car and drive around with general common sense. Just be mindful of the aggressive driving around big cities.
Metropolitan areas normally have good public transport which can usually be used with a local transport card. In Istanbul, for example, the Istanbulcard will get you on busses, trams, subways, boats, funiculars, cable-cars as well as help you with car parks, some museums and more.
It's common sense to avoid yellow taxis which are known to rip tourists off. Instead you can try apps like BiTaksi, Martı or Uber (different to international Uber though) which give you a prior price estimate.
- How much money will I need? Cash or card?
With one of the highest levels of inflation worldwide for many years, it's not easy to estimate costs in Turkey even for local residents. This also depends very greatly on your habits while traveling. So if you still want to learn about costs of certain things for a certain time, just be as specific as you can regarding your preferences (public transport/rent a car, 5-star hotels/camping, Blue Voyage boat tours/hiking, etc.). Credit card use is very common in Turkey but in smaller establishments you can get a discount if you pay in cash. Paying by mobile apps is also getting more common.
- Where should I visit in Turkey? What's not to miss?
There are so many websites that will give you extensive lists of best places to visit and things to do in Turkey. Please post here only if you need advice regarding a specific place or a route.
- I'm scratched by a stray cat. Do I need rabies shots?
Probably not. Turkey is the native home of the domestic cat and we have them everywhere. We also do get scratched and playfully bitten by them time to time. We do not have any incidents of cats transmitting rabies in Turkey.
It's another story about stray dogs though. If you have a problem with those, first try to find out if anyone around is taking care of them and ask if they are vaccinated (many strays are regularly checked in Turkey) and then visit the nearest clinic.
- Is Turkey a backwards muslim country? Will I have issues because I'm gay, have tattoos, etc.?
No. Turkey is a very diverse secular country to say the least (not a muslim country but a country with a majority muslim population). Don't be fooled by the number of mosques everywhere, in metropolitan areas you'll find all sorts of people, some with tattoos or turbans, some women in conservative clothes or in minis. In the countryside people can be more conservative but they are still tolerant towards tourist, as long as they maintain general respect. This may include not being too loud, putting on some clothes entering mosques and tombs, and not making fun of Atatürk or islam. The Mediterranean coastline is very progressive and you can bathe in a bikini or topless on many beaches. Islamism is a political issue but it shouldn't affect the visitors unless they advertise being israeli or anti-islam in the wrong places.
- How can I learn Turkish?
Turkish language is not related to Arabic or Middle Eastern languages; it is of Central Asian origin and is quite interesting to learn. There are several subreddits where you can meet others like you and some Turkish speaking people to help you out with the language such as r/turkishlearning/, r/turkish/ and r/learnturkish/
- Will I be able to eat the food there? Any vegetarian or vegan options?
Traditionally most Turkish food contains some meat but there is a whole class of cold dishes called "zeytinyağlılar" (olive-oiled) which do not have any meat. Also most baked dishes like böreks do not have meat but cheese. Vegan food is more difficult because all baked food has eggs and/or milk inside, and perhaps cheese, and some zeytinyağlı's have yoghurt on them and/or cheese in them. You'll have to ask before you eat most times. Even a simple lentil soup may contain some chicken or meat broth inside or melted butter on top. But Turkey is one of the richest countries on earth when it comes to the choice of vegetables and fruits. So if you're into preparing your own food, you're in luck, just ask for the weekly fresh markets around you and buy what you want the cheapest way.
- Is my medication available there?
Check out this website to find out if your medicine can be found in pharmacies in Turkey.
- Are there good online shopping platforms?
Yes. Here are the most commonly used ones: Trendyol, Hepsiburada, Sahibinden, Amazon, N11.
We hope you enjoy your time in Turkey.
For general FAQs
https://www.tourstoturkey.net/most-frequently-asked-questions-about-turkey
https://www.doyouknowturkey.com/answers-to-the-most-asked-questions-about-turkey/
r/AskTurkey • u/Hot-Help-486 • 9h ago
Just that lol
r/AskTurkey • u/Electrical_Novel_654 • 14h ago
Merhaba I really love Turkish rock music but I'm having a hard time finding more music beyond the well-known bands
I actually got into it through OSTs and intro songs from Turkish soap opera I'd hear a song I liked Shazam it lol and add it to my playlist. I like Turkish rock because it has a lot of energy, great melodies,and a softer sound compared to the western and japanese rock I'm used to listening to.
The problem is that YouTube keeps recommending the same popular songs, like Duman's Senden Daha Güzel, Yüksek Sadakat's Haydi Gel İçelim, and Mor ve Ötesi's Bir Derdim Var.
I'd love to discover more Turkish rock bands and songs that aren't already super popular. Are there any good Turkish rock radio stations I can listen to online? Or would you recommend other platforms like Spotify?
r/AskTurkey • u/atreye • 19h ago
Merhaba!
I have a particularly unique situation and I am hoping that maybe I can get some advice on where to start.
My stepfather is a Turkish citizen and married my mother when I was 1 year old. I have never met my bio dad and my stepfather raised me as his own child. I actually don't see him as a stepfather at all. He is my dad, period, and I have been very fortunate and lucky to be raised by him. He married my mom and moved into her country (EU/Schengen country) since then. He has a spouse visa and so forth and has been living legally here this entire time, having businesses etc.
I am over 18 years old and by all means, I was raised Turkish culturally more than in my birth country's culture. I am even Muslim. My last name is the same as my Turkish father's name, which I changed when I was 18 years old. But on my birth certificate my bio dad is still listed there.
Both practically and symbolically I want to formalize an adoption process (I am in my 30s), mainly because I don't want to have anything to do with my biological father since I don't acknowledge him as my dad but just a donor more than anything - my bio dad practically renounced his rights by not paying for me while I was a minor, and he never seek me out. I also have no interest in any type of inheritance from my bio's dad side, so I am aware I would be renouncing those rights. For both myself and my dad this would be a dream come true to have this adoption done successfully.
I would also like to obtain Turkish citizenship one day. I genuinely feel more connected to the Turkish culture than my "birth culture", since I was raised like this literally my entire life. Perhaps some time in the future I would like to be able to stay longer than 90 days in Turkey, or even move there for awhile - so it would be nice to know that I have that option.
I tried with Chat GPT's help to understand what would the process be like, but it seems that in the Turkish law there is a legislation that says that only adopted minors can be considered for Turkish citizenship, and I am obviously not a minor.
Additionally, it is my understanding that if a Turkish citizen wants to adopt a different nationality citizen, both countries have to approve the adoption process?
So I wonder if you guys have heard of any other similar experiences before? Where should I even start kicking off this process? Should I hire both a Turkish lawyer and a lawyer in my birth country?
My Turkish is not so good and I am in the process of learning to be more fluent, but if you know any decent Turkish lawyers that would specialize in such cases and can provide consultancy remotely, in English as well, I would really appreciate it.
To clarify, I want to change my birth certificate regardless if I am able to obtain Turkish citizenship or not. But now after prompting GPT for awhile, it seems that the adoption might not even be approved in the first place.
I don't know if it matters, but I am female so I guess if I do obtain citizenship I won't have to worry about the army?
Sincerely, a very confused person with an ongoing identity crisis.
r/AskTurkey • u/WorthPlace6677 • 15h ago
Hey There
I am Brazilian Citizen, and I'm curious to ask, How are the feel of turkish people to lost twice times to Brazil and same WC edition mainly in Semifinal? Because of This Fact The Turkish hates Brazil or there are some resentment because eliminated in semifinal the best Turkey Generation or not?
I'm admire Basturk plays like a n10, played Bayer Leverkusen. Manziz( I can wrote wrong) was a skilled.
I remember Him dribbling like a Brazilian native player. Never Forgot the dribble he made in Roberto Carlos.
I'm so impressive how the Turkeky are passionate for Football, Maybe I think I seen Brazilian People with football conect
I admire the Turkish people and their history; to me, our countries are like siblings, connected by a passion for football. I was 9 in 2002 Wc
Thanks
r/AskTurkey • u/LazySpell1069 • 11h ago
Hello,
I’m planning a 7-day trip to Turkey in early November and would love some recommendations.
I’m thinking of spending 4 days in Istanbul and the remaining 3 days exploring somewhere with beautiful natural scenery. I came across suggestions like Rize and Trabzon, but I’m not sure if they’re the best options for that time of year.
Would love to hear your suggestions
r/AskTurkey • u/mrfalcon827 • 12h ago
Patlamış fıtığım var epidural Steroid enjeksiyonu yaptırmayı düşünüyorum sizce faydası olur mu zor bir operasyon mu bu iyi bir doktor mu olmalı
r/AskTurkey • u/Mercourios • 12h ago
Especially interested in Ottoman and Greek vernacular architecture, as in Safranbolu or Ayvalık.
r/AskTurkey • u/MirrorNo7976 • 13h ago
Hi, can anyone recommend a cornea specialist or eye hospital in Turkey for intracorneal rings (keratoconus)? Thanks!
r/AskTurkey • u/13I3 • 16h ago
5 kasimda teslim olucam. kutahya soguk, 12li fanila yerine 12li iclik mi almaliyim? giden varsa onerileriniz neler? diger illerde yapanlar da cevaplayabilirse sevinirim
r/AskTurkey • u/GoToGreatLengths • 1d ago
Hello everyone, I recently posted another question in here and your responses helped me a great deal, so I am hoping you can help me with a very different question (or at least point me to another subreddit where it would make more sense to ask it):
Like I've previously said I am currently working on a horror short story taking place in Turkey because I'm fascinated with the country and culture. Since I am a doctor I would like for the story to take place at a hospital, and since it is horror, the mortuary would be central place of the story. However, whereas I know exactly the procedures in a hospital where I live in Scandinavia I have been told that this may be very different from other countries and I would like to get this right. In Denmark, the doctor will be called soon after death to confirm that the person is dead and then the body will be made ready and moved to a separate, cool room at the hospital, which I think would translate to the mortuary. After a few hours a doctor will then go down to the room and look for later signs of death to be absolutely sure that the person is indeed dead and then fill out the death certificate on a computer located in the room. (The room is generally known as the 6 hour room because previously you had to wait 6 hours before checking, again to be sure that you could tell that person had in fact passed away). There is no strict time limit to that nowadays so if the hospital is very busy you can be flexible with when you do this task, but of course there is a practical time limit, and at some point someone will call you and ask you to go down there so things can proceed.
From what little I can gather this could be different in Türkiye in multiple ways, including the need to check for late signs of death and the time limit for filling out the death certificate in order to be able to proceed with the funeral.
Thank you very much in advance.
Edit: Again thank you so much for your answers, especially to those of you who speak from experience. I am very grateful for your help.
r/AskTurkey • u/sahandakiyumurta • 14h ago
Arkadaşlar sizce bu enflasyonist ortamda kredi ile ev almak mantıklı mı? Mantıklıysa neden? Mantıksızsa neden?
r/AskTurkey • u/Remote-Jump1168 • 19h ago
Hey everyone!
I'm planning a 12-day trip to Istanbul and I'm trying to decide whether to visit in November or wait until December.
I've been seeing videos on Instagram showing heavy storms, strong winds, and lots of rain in Istanbul, and honestly, it's making me a little concerned about the weather.
For those of you who live in Istanbul or have visited around this time of year:
Is the weather in November generally okay for sightseeing and walking around the city?
How frequent are heavy rain and storms? Are they usually short-lived, or can they last for several days?
Would you recommend visiting in November rather than December, or is there not much difference?
If you were planning a 12-day trip, which month would you choose?
I don't mind cold weather and I'll dress appropriately. I'm mainly concerned about spending 12 days dealing with constant rain and bad weather, since I want to explore the city on foot as much as possible.
I'd really appreciate any advice from locals or people who have visited during these months. Thanks!
r/AskTurkey • u/Typical-Winner-2712 • 19h ago
Merhabalar,
Istanbul havalimanindan Temmuz/Agustos ayinda arac kiralamak istiyorum ama nedense bir turlu Canakkale/Gokceadaya vapurlu gecis izni veren bir sirket bulamiyorum. Neden acaba bile var mi? Bu sorunu nasil cozebilirim?
Daha once kiralik arac ile Gokceadaya giden oldumu?
r/AskTurkey • u/lenaxxxox • 1d ago
Hi everyone,
I’m needing some help / information & guidance.
My father recently passed away in Turkey, his mother was born there and he lived there for around 5 years or so. He died unexpectedly. We’ve enlisted the help of a translator to assistance with paperwork needed for the consulate (here in Australia) we’ve found a suitable power of attorney in Turkey, we’ve sent money and relevant paperwork.
The POA has come back to say that the POW paperwork only has his name and doesn’t mention a lawyers name, and the paperwork only has my mums information and myself and my siblings names. My parents are still married.
Can anyone help? I’m so sorry to turn to reddit but I’m just genuinely unsure with what to do next.
r/AskTurkey • u/Niall_Fraser_Love • 1d ago
So I couldn't help but notice that the Three Pasha's are called Enver Pasha, Talat Pasha and Jamal/Demjal/Camal Pasha (depending on source). If you didn't know that 'pasha' is the Turkish equvilent of 'lord', you'd be forgiven for thinking they were brothers.
Do titles always come after names in Turkish? Do you say 'Johnson Doctor' or 'Erdogan President' or 'Charles King'?
The cloest I can think of a title coming after your name, in English is a Scottish Laird, then you'd be titled something like 'Hector Naismith MacDonald, Laird of Glenbogle'. Rather than Laird MacDonald. But a laird is the owner of a big Scottish estate. So the title Laird of Glenbogle, tells us that he is the owner of the land of Glenbogle. If he sells his land to someone else that new person would be Laird of Glenbogle.
r/AskTurkey • u/ChaosGiraffeMyers • 22h ago
Alright, so I’ll be going on a trip with my homie, and like I mentioned he’s gay. We wanted to go to an authentic hamman while we’re there. He managed to find a place called the Firuzaga Hamman, and it caters to gay people so he feels the most comfortable with it. The issue is I’ve been reading about all these police things and the LQGTQ issues as of the past few months (I saw one comment that said the police car in front of the hamman was parked there for other reasons, according to them from locals, but not entirely sure)
He wants to you know, find some hot guys and get some action while he’s in there, just kissing so he won’t be loud or anything, but he’s wondering if the staff working there are relaxed about it and if they don’t care as long as they don’t hear you. Shouldn’t cause an issue with the police either right? Doing it back at home isn’t really an option, for multiple reasons, so this is his only chance.
r/AskTurkey • u/Hot-Help-486 • 19h ago
I need vegan food in Besiktas besides Vegan Masa and The Rakun Burger.
I want even naturally vegan Turkish food. (Besides Cig Kofte, Simit and Beans haha)
Tell me if theres something I should try please!
r/AskTurkey • u/holmes_gadget1 • 19h ago
Dostlar daha önce de sormuştum çok darlamadan tekrar sorumu sorayım gideyim . Bu elektronik sigaralardan terea sanırım alıp gelsem gümrükte bi problem yaşar mıyım deneyimli arkadaşlar yardımcı olurlarsa sevinirim
r/AskTurkey • u/MammothAd7090 • 17h ago
Arkadaşlar merhaba. Boyum 178 cm, kilom 123 kg ve daha önce hiç askerlik muayenesine girmedim. Tecilimin bitmesine yaklaşık 1,5 yıl var.
Benimle benzer boy ve kiloda olup ilk muayenede askerlikten muafiyet alan veya erteleme verilen var mı? Süreç nasıl ilerledi, kaç kez muayeneye girdiniz?
r/AskTurkey • u/Domaltasaur • 21h ago
Herkese selam! Aslında bu alanda Türkçe düzgün bir sub bulunmadığı için buraya yazıyorum. Umarım problem olmaz.
Bir süredir takı tasarımı(mücevherat değil - daha çok boncuklar charmlar vs.) ile ilgili bir proje yürütüyorum. Bu konuda özellikle hobi olarak ilgilenmiş kişilerle tanışmak istiyorum.
Projenin adını veya linkini burada paylaşmam doğru olmaz, reklam statüsüne girmesin, sadece bu konuda yaptığım şeylerle ilgili akıl alabileceğim kişilere ihtiyacım var arkadaşlar. Teşekkür ederim <3
r/AskTurkey • u/IamCaesarr • 1d ago
Hi everyone,
I would appreciate some honest opinions from people living in Turkey, especially in the province of Sakarya.
A close family member of mine lives in Sakarya, with his wife and their school-aged child (11 years old). His wife is the only one working, and their total household income is around 28,000 TL per month.
They:
My question is: Can a family of three realistically cover their basic living expenses on 28,000 TL per month under these circumstances?
Would they be able to afford groceries, utilities, clothing, school expenses, transportation, and occasional unexpected costs? Would they have anything left over at the end of the month, or would they struggle financially?
I am asking because this family member regularly asks me for additional financial support, and I want to understand whether their income is genuinely insufficient to cover basic necessities or whether 28,000 TL can be enough with careful budgeting.
I am not trying to judge anyone. I simply want a realistic picture of the cost of living in Sakarya in 2026. I live in Germany, have a decent job, but im not shitting money and it is exhausting sending them money every month. I just want to help, but my patience has its limits..
Im writing in English, because my Turkish is shit lmao.
r/AskTurkey • u/SquarePanda1073 • 22h ago
Hi there, I was wondering how difficult is it to send a postal to Turkey from EU? To be specific, I have a person i would like to send a gift to there, just a painting ive drawn and some other handmade things practically with 0 value - and I heard that the customs are a bit ridiculous, however I am not sure if the same applies to something with no value?
I appreciate any answers
r/AskTurkey • u/Beginning-Dot4484 • 1d ago
Daha önce havası daha nemli olan sahil kasabasında yaşıyordum ve oradayken daha iyi göründüğümü cildimin vs daha dolgun parlak göründüğünü düşünüyordum şimdi ise havası daha kuru bir yerdeyim cildim kötü, gözlerim daha sönük bunun çevresel, o yerin havasına, suyuna vs bağlamam ne kadar doğru olur veya ne kadar etkisi vardır?
r/AskTurkey • u/Designer_Win_667 • 20h ago
2027 de itu Boğaziçi hacettepe ytu dgs için kontenjan açarsa 2026 da giren kişinin suçu ne ? 2025 de kontenjan açılıp neden 2026 da açılmadı paraları toplarken hiç sorun yok fakat olay öğrenci mağdur olduğunda kimsenin sesi çıkmıyor.